- Sharada Devi — her principal identity
- Santan Datri — Giver of Children
- Jagjanani Devi — Mother of the World
- Maa Simsa — the name devotees call her by
A mother the hills have trusted for four centuries
On a ridge above the village of Simas, wrapped in deodar forest and looking out over the folds of Mandi district, stands a shrine that couples have climbed to for close to four hundred years. The Goddess here is worshipped as Sharada Devi, but the hills know her simply as Simsa Mata — Maa Simsa.
She is approached, above all, as Santan Datri: the one who gives children to those who have waited long for them. Families arrive from across Himachal and beyond, not for a quick darshan, but to stay — to light a lamp, to sit through the night, and to ask.
Those who come with a true heart are answered in a dream.
The temple's rhythm follows the older rhythm of the hills — mornings begin with the aarti as mist still sits in the valley, and the courtyard fills fastest in the nine nights of Navratri, when the goddess is said to be closest to those who ask.
Sallindara — the night of the dream
Sallindara means "dream" in the local Pahadi tongue. It is the heart of why couples travel here — a night spent on the temple floor, and a dream the Goddess is believed to send in answer.
A couple lights a jyoti of til (sesame) oil before the Goddess and stays through the night at the temple, sleeping on its floor as generations before them have done. It is believed Maa Simsa appears in a dream and offers a fruit or vegetable — a sign that the prayer has been heard. Whatever is shown in the dream, tradition asks that the couple neither eat nor touch that thing again until the blessing is fulfilled.
A guava in the dream
Traditionally read as a sign the couple will be blessed with a son.
Okra in the dream
Read as a sign the couple will be blessed with a daughter.
Any root or fruit
Any fruit or root vegetable shown in the dream is taken as the Goddess's blessing.
This account reflects local tradition and the beliefs devotees carry to the temple. It is shared here as living heritage, not as medical guidance.
Daily rituals & timings
The temple keeps a hill-village rhythm — early to open, and quiet again after the evening aarti. Timings extend during Navratri.
| Time | Ritual | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5:30 AM | Temple opens · Mangala Aarti | Doors open with the first light over the ridge |
| 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM | General Darshan | Couples light the til-oil jyoti for Sallindara |
| 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Bhog & rest period | Darshan continues at a slower pace |
| 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Afternoon Darshan | Best time for a quieter visit outside Navratri |
| 7:00 PM | Sandhya Aarti | Evening lamp offering as dusk settles on the valley |
| 8:30 PM | Temple closes | Overnight stay permitted for Sallindara, on request |
Timings are indicative and may shift with season and festival days. Confirm with the temple committee before a long journey.
How to reach the temple
The shrine sits on a hilltop off the Mandi–Ladbharol road, a short climb from where the vehicle track ends.
Fly into Bhuntar
Kullu-Manali Airport (Bhuntar) is the nearest airfield, connected to Delhi and Chandigarh by seasonal flights.
~65 km to the templeOr take the train to Jogindernagar
The Kangra Valley narrow-gauge line's Jogindernagar station is the closest railhead.
~55 km to the templeReach Mandi town by road
Mandi is well connected by bus and taxi from Chandigarh, Shimla, and Kullu-Manali. From Mandi, head toward Ladbharol.
Drive to Simas village
Taxis and local buses run from Mandi and Ladbharol to the base of the temple hill through deodar forest.
The final climb
A short walking trail from the road-head leads up to the temple courtyard at 3,000+ ft. Comfortable footwear is worth carrying, even in summer.
Navratri & the summer mela
The temple is at its fullest during the nine nights of Navratri, when the Sallindara ritual draws the largest crowds of the year — couples fill the courtyard, and many stay through the night. A second, shorter fair is held over two days each summer, when the hillside around the temple turns into a gathering of pilgrims and traders from neighbouring villages.
Sallindara Mela
Held during Navratri. Couples arrive to light the jyoti, keep vigil overnight, and wait for the dream that is said to answer years of prayer.
Visit guidelines
A few things that make the climb, and the darshan, easier — especially in Navratri crowds.
Wear sturdy footwear — the final approach to the temple is a hillside walking trail, not a paved road.
Carry your own sesame (til) oil and a small lamp if you plan to perform the Sallindara ritual.
During Navratri, arrive early — the courtyard and overnight space fill quickly after sundown.
Carry water and a shawl or jacket; the hilltop is noticeably cooler than Mandi town, even in summer.
Photography inside the sanctum is generally discouraged — check with the priests on duty.
Basic tea and prasad stalls operate near the temple; carry cash, as card payment is unreliable on the hill.